Clarification on Duratec 5 speeds. Please

[stan]

I've read through about 10 pages in the Transmission forum. Went through the tech library. Searched other online sources (but this Forum is the best, obviously). What I'm seeing: The 5-speed (M50D-R1) from '88 and newer can be used in any 2.3/2.5 Lima or Duratec. There is no bellhousing so the transmission from the 3.0 can't be used even though it's the same transmission. But the internals can be used. The transmission from the 4.0 -'86 and newer (?) is the same except for the gear rations. (I'm assuming they're lower because of being used in 4X4s and more towing expectations).

Sorry for the long lead in. I'm looking to replace my '01 Duratec 5-speed and then rebuilding -maybe- my old one. It has the 2nd gear syncro going out and don't want to get an earlier one and find out it doesn't work.

Thanks for any input, and hopefully not TL;DR

 

[pjtoledo]

I've also heard the innards are the same and have a couple to experiment with but haven't actually swapped parts yet.
4.0 has more low rpm power, does not have as low 1st & 2nd
2.3L, 2.5L, 3.0V, 2.3D all have less power, do have lower 1st & 2nd 3rd?

Duratec have their own bell housing pattern, no others will fit.
for what it's worth, my 2005 Duratec still has the original transmission at 377,000+ miles.

 

[scotts90ranger]

The Duratec transmission case is different than the Lima version because of the bellhousing, Ford never uses the same bellhousing for much of anything unlike GM...

You have the years and stuff mixed up a bit, first M5OD was in the 2.0/2.3L rangers in '87, 4.0's always had the M5OD, so did 3.0's and 2.9's were a crapshoot even until their last year in '92. The 4.0L version actually had taller gears so the gears themselves were stronger. There were a few internal changes over the years, around '95ish they changed the shifter around, there was a gear change in about '92, handful of different slave cylinders and in about '98 the speedo gear hole went away.

In short you need to stick with a duratec transmission which limits you to late '01 through '11

 

[Jazzer]

You don’t have a location listed, but I have a M5OD-R1 from a 2007 Duratec, all bearings and seals replaced. for $500. I’m in central Indiana, willing to drive a bit if it’s relatively near.

 

[stan]

You don’t have a location listed, but I have a M5OD-R1 from a 2007 Duratec, all bearings and seals replaced. for $500. I’m in central Indiana, willing to drive a bit if it’s relatively near.

I just found a Duratec 5-speed about 1.5 hours away. I'm just west of Springfield, O. Appreciate the info and offers (G/L selling your M50D-R1)!
Thanks again..